Artist · EveryDisc catalogue

Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley (born 8 January 1935, Tupelo — 16 August 1977, Memphis) was an American singer and actor, one of the most commercially successful popular music performers of the twentieth century. In America, Presley was nicknamed the "King of Rock and Roll" (or simply the "King"). He popularized rock and roll, although he was not the genre's first performer. Nevertheless, it was he who combined country and blues, giving birth to rockabilly, which characterizes his first recordings for Sun Records in the mid-1950s. By incorporating gospel and pop elements into his style, Presley went beyond rockabilly and achieved worldwide popularity (hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," etc.). He made his film debut in 1956 ("Love Me Tender"). From 1958 to 60, he served in the U.S. Armed Forces. After returning from the army, he began recording again ("It's Now or Never," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and other hits), after which he focused on his film career, starring in a total of 31 films and recording two dozen soundtracks, most of which are rated very poorly. A turning point in Presley's career was his first television concert (1968), which marked a departure from the outdated style of his musical films. Recordings from the late 1960s through the 1970s are marked by the influence of country, soul, and pop (hits such as "In the Ghetto," "Suspicious Minds," "Always on My Mind," etc.). In 1969, after a 8-year hiatus, he returned to live performances, which became the dominant feature of his subsequent career (annual engagements in Las Vegas, tours across the U.S.). In 1973, the international broadcast of his second television concert, "Aloha from Hawaii," took place via satellite. Medication abuse led to declining health and was the cause of his death in 1977. Despite Presley's death, his music continues to be released regularly to this day, including, in addition to numerous compilations and reissues, previously unreleased recordings; in total, more than 1 billion records have been sold worldwide. Presley was a winner of three Grammy Awards (1968, 1973, 1975) and one of the first musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986).